Washington, DC – Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity, today announced his intention to introduce legislation that sanctions Russia’s cyber criminals following the Obama Administration’s public accusation that Russia authorized cyber-attacks on U.S. political organizations. The legislation will mandate the Obama Administration investigate persons who have engaged in significant activities undermining cybersecurity and aggressively pursue sanctions when appropriate, similar to the cyber provision within Gardner’s North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act.

“Today’s news is further evidence of what happens when the Obama Administration fails to take the cyber threat seriously. That is why I plan to introduce legislation that builds upon my North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act by mandating the Administration sanction Russia’s bad actors who are responsible for malicious cyber activities,” said Gardner. “Russia’s interference with American democracy is a direct threat to our political process, and it may only be the tip of the iceberg. It is imperative that Russia’s behavior is met with strength in the form of aggressive sanctions to show the world that its cybercrimes will not be tolerated.”